NATURE'S gift

Supported by an authentic materials palette, this getaway - just a stone's throw from Sydney - is a luxurious yet laidback home away from home.

- Jackie Brygel

Ensconced by towering gum trees and enjoying all-encompassing views of the countryside, this rural retreat basks in its soothing green surrounds. Belying its proximity to the city – less than an hour’s drive from Sydney’s CBD – it’s impossible not to feel a connection to nature at this country lodge-style retreat. This surely rings true for its owners, a couple with three children, who escape to the property every chance they get.

“Taking advantage of the outdoor surroundings as inspiration” was imperative to the couple when envisioning their new rural getaway. Their brief to the design team? “A country home that had a lot of space to entertain and to have views of the outside”. A long, leafy driveway flanked by ornamental pear trees leads to the house, which set on two hectares of bushland and complete with a flourishing citrus and peach orchard.

When Antonina Scotti, co-director of Sydney design studio Sukari Interior Design, first visited the property in early 2019, it was home to a nondescript, ageing house that didn’t do justice to its captivating setting. “It didn’t take advantage of the beautiful landscape,” she recalls. “The area is so lovely and quiet. It’s very peaceful and calming with no overlooking neighbours. You really feel like you’re in the country and miles away from everything.”